Potato-planter.



L. A. ASPINWALL.

POTATO PLANTBR.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1912.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914,

Z SHEETS-SHEET 1.

L. A. ASPINWALL.

v POTATO PLANTER. APPLICATION FILED JULY 27, 1912.

Patented Feb. 3, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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' UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

LEWIS AUGUSTUS ASPINWALL, 0F JACKSON, MICHIGAN, ABSIGNOR T0 ABPINWALL MANUFACTURING CUMPANY, 0F JACKSON, MICHIGAN, Av CORPORATION 0F MICHIGAN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

` POTATO-PLANTEE Patented Feb.v 3, 1914.

Original application led February 17, 1912, Serial Io. 678,820. Bivided and this application led July 27, 1912. Serial No. 711,784.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEWIS AUGUSTUS As- PINWALL, a citizen of the United States, re-

-sidin at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and tate of Michigan, have invented acertainnew and useful Improvement in Potato-Planters, of which the following is a specification.

My present invention relatesto im rovements upon the potato planting evices shown 'and described in Letters Patent heretofore granted 'to me, and particularly to Patent No. 864,595, dated August 27, 1907,

and the same is a division of my Let-ters Patent No. 1,059,810, dated April 22, 1913.

My present invention relates particularly to. the furrow openers and coverers,

and the object of the same is to increase the efficiency of the structures heretofore employed by me, particularly with reference to making the potato planter adaptable for planting two parallel rows of potatoes simultaneously and thus capable of performing double work.`

In the structure of my present invention, and in combination with the essential devices heretofore employed by me in the machines of my aforesaid patents I employ companion furrow openers, supporting devices therefor on which the furrow openers are adjustable so as to obtain the desired distance between the rows, means for raising and lowering the furrow openers, and means for obtainmg a transverse rigidity of the furrow opener The coverers are supported by devicesthat may be raised and lowered and held in an elevated position, and the coverers are ad justable on their supports, also according to the distance between the' rows, all of Vwhich is hereinafter more particularly described. 1

In the drawing, Figure 1 is an elevation at the left-hand side'of my improved potato planter, with the left wheel removed and showing only just so much of the mechanism associated with the companion furrow openers and coverers as is necessary for the understanding of the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan ofthe same, and Fig. 3 is adetail hereinafter referred to.

Similar letters and numerals of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures.

There are parts which are illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 which are necessary to a full and complete understanding of the otato planter, ut which form 'no essentia part of the present improvement or invention, such parts .being similar to what I have heretofore shown in my aforesaid atents. so

These parts comprise the frame 2; t ie main' axle 3; the Wheels 4 and 5, and the dividedpole 6. aa represent the furrow openers or plows,

These devices are in e5 and b b the coverers. pairs so as to provide two furrow openers orplows for opening the earth to plant the seed potatoes in'two parallel rows and with relation to the coverers, so as to deliver the earth over the4 potatoes and cover the fur- 7o rows. These devicesl are adjustable and may be specially positioned and are specially supported, so as to provide furrows for receiving the potatoes directly beneath the place of delivery by theV delivery devices which form the subject of a co-pending application herewith. y c andcl are vertical frame members whichare secured to the main body of the potato planting device, and which at their upper ends are adapted to support the hopper devices employed by me, and which form the subject of a separate co-pending application.y These frame members come at opposite sides of their supports and are provided with a cross bar f, so that the parts c c1 and f form a frame of U-shape. This stitl'ens these members for the parts that are connected thereto and for the draft of the machine. The cross bar f between the upright parts c c1 is provided with a series of holes 9, as shown in Fig. 2. l

e and 'e1 are draft bars connected respectively to the upright frame member c c1 and extending forward, and at their forward ends they are connected to pulling devices for the animals hauling the potato planter. The iocation of this draft attachment ser-ves to equalize the draft, eliminating the weight which would otherwise be upon the horses necks. It will be noticed that this draft device is pivoted to the upright frame parts c c1 not only below the main frame, but below a oint of considerable weight, so that in puii the draft thereon has a lifting tendency which overcomes the downward resistance both of the Weight and the furrow openers as the same are in operation, and the pressure is not on the animals so much in pulling ing the machine, 106

the 'machine whenin operation as it is upon the axle and wheelsA where it belongs.

The furrow openers or plows a a: are connected to bridge parts or heads 7, and to these parts side bars k k1 are secured at their forward ends. The `bridge parts or heads 7 are also connected toa front bar or cross bar z'. 'I'his `bar is perforated so that the heads 7, with their furrow openers, may be connected along said bar z' in an adjustable relation, according to the widths desired for the parallel rows in whichA the potatoes are to be planted. The rear ends of the side bars h h1 are connected by pivot bolts 8 to short bars c k1. These short bars are perforated for bolts which connect the same in an adjustable relation to the cross bar f, hence the cross bar f, the short bars lf: c, the side bars l1, k1, the front bar z', and the bridge parts or heads 7 form a rigid frame capable of adjustment for the width of rows,

and in this adjustability it is to be presumed that the side bars la, h1. will be maintained parallel in all cases.

The side members c 01 may be secured to the frame 2, of the machine, or to the sides of a suitable magazine of the machine by f bolts l0.

f which is received in the notch of the notched plate Z, and by which dev'ices any possible transverse motion of the furrow openers or plows under tension is prevented. ',Ihese devices also stiften the whole structure so that the making of aurate parallel furrows is facilitated, that is, urrows in straight lines. These furrow openers a a are not wide but are of about the form shown in Figs. l and 2, suitably connected by bolts to vthe bridge parts or heads 7, which are, as

' this adjustable relation. This stra hereinbefore stated, adjustable along the front cross bar The coverers b b are at the rear of the potato planter. Their func-tion is to deliver the soil over the potatoes as deposited in the furro'ws made by the furrow openers, said coverers forming a ridge of earth over the potatoes as deposited. These coverers are connected to frame membersv 14 carrying spindles upon which the coverers turn, and they are connected by said frame parts 14 and bolts in an adjustable relation yto a U-shape strap frame b1, said strap frame being provided with holes 13 to provide for frame b1, at the forward ends, .is connec to the main frame of the machine by pivots 11,

and I i provide an inversely positioned U- shape frame b2, at its rear ends connected through a fastening member to the forward ends of the strap frame b1, the frame b2 rising above the axle of the forward part of the machine in advance of lthe usual position occupied by the operator of the machine. Upon one side of this frame b2, is a projecting foot lever b3, and I provide a spring 15 at its rea-r end connected to onel of the frame members c or 01 and at its forw-ard end connected at-one side of the frame b2, and at its end provided with a tensioning device.

By means of the foot lever, the operator can swing .the frames b2 b1 on the pivots 11 and raise the coverers off the ground. When the i foo-t is released, the coverers come against theground, and the spring 15, by virtue of its contractile action tends to force the coverers into the ground and keep them there, so as to make their work more efin moving the potato planter from -a placeof storage to the field, it is always desirable to lift the furrow openers and also the coverers 0H the ground. The operator may manually ylift the bar cl to raise the furrow openers above the ground and by placing his foot on the lever b3 may also, and at the same time, if necessary, raise the coverers above the ground and by suitable means may secure both the furrow openers and the coverers Iin their raised positions while turning the machine at the end of each row grlvhile moving the machine from field t e I claim as my invention:

l. The combination in a pot-ato planter with a supporting frame, of a frame connected therewith and depending therefrom rearward of the axle and extending below the plane of the axle, draft bars connected to said frame below the plane of the axle and extending forward to a substantially common point, and devices connected to the forward ends of said Vdraft bars, and to which the animals pulling the machine are harnessed, whereby the line of draft ten- -sion comes below the axle of the wheels to assist and to 'relieve the weight otherwise coming upon the necks of the animals.

2; The combination in a potato planter with a supporting frame, of vertical frame members secured thereto and extending below the plane of the axle and a cross bar connecting the same so that said frame is of substantially U-shape, and. the cross bar provided with a series of perforations, short bars underlying the cross bar and adapted for adjustable connection therewith by bolts at the perforations, side bars nected to the outer ends of the latter bars and extending forward, furrow openers or plows connected to the forward ends of said side bars, a front bar perforated at its respective ends, and means for adjustably connecting the furrow openers to the said front bar, whereby the distance apartof the said furrow openers may be adjusted and varied to provide for the desired width of the rows of potatoes to be planted.

3. The combination in a potato planter with a supporting frame, of vertical frame members secured thereto and extending below the plane of the axle and a cross bar connecting the same so that said frame' is substantially U-shape, and the cross bar provided with a series of perfo-rations, short bars also provided with perforations underlying the cross bar and adapted for adjustable connection therewith by bolts at the perforations, side bars pivo-tally connected to the outer ends of the latter bars and eX-, tending forward, furrow openers connected to the forward ends of the said side bars,

a front bar perforated at its respective ends, means for adjustably connecting the furrow openers to said front bar, whereby the distance apart of the said furrow openers may be adjusted and varied to provide for the desired width of therows of potatoes to be planted, and devices connected to said front bar and extending to a point of support on the main frame of the machine, whereby the furrow openers and the frame members to which they are connected, may be raised and lowered or supported as desired.

4. The combination in apotato planter with a supporting frame, of vertical frame members secured theretoand extending below the plane of the axle and connected by a cross bar 'so that said frame is substantially ofU-shape, and the cro-ss bar provided with a series of perforations, short bars also provided with perforationsvunderlying the cross bar-and adapted for adjustable connection therewith by bolts at the perforations, side bars pivotally connected to the outer ends of the latter' bars and ,eX- tending forward, furrow openers connected to the forward ends of the said side bars, a front bar perforated at its respective ends, means for adjustably connecting the furrow openers to said front bar, whereby the distance apart of the said furrow openers may be adjusted and varied to provide for the desired width of the rows of potatoes to be planted, a notched plate secured to the center of the aforesaid front bar and a segment lplate secured to a part of the frame of the machine with its edge occupying a position in the notch of said bar withpivotally con-` out interfering with any possible vertical movement of the furrow openers and the devices to which they are connected,- whereby the said notched plate and segment plate act to overcome any tendency to' a lateral movement in the furrow openers under the tension of use.

5. The combination in a potato planter i with a supporting frame, of two furrow openers, bridge parts or heads to which they are connected, side barsconnected at their forward ends to the bridge part-s, devices connecti the rear ends of said side bars in a pivote adjustable relation to thev said supporting frame, a front frame, means for connecting the same in an adjustable relation lto the bridge parts or heads of the furrow openers, and means for raising the furrow openers above the ground and holding them in a suspended position.

l6. The combination in a potatoplanter with a supporting frame, of two furrow openers, bridge parts or heads to which they are connected, side bars connected at their forward ends to the bridge parts, devices connecting the rear ends of said side bars in a pivoted adjustable relation to the said supporting frame, a front frame, means for connecting the same in an adjustable relation to the bridge parts or heads of the furrow openers, means for raising the furrow openers above the ground and holding them in a suspended position, and means associated with the supporting devices of the furrow openers and the main frame of the machine, whereby any tendency to lateral motion of the furrow openers is overcome and prevented.

7. The .combination in 'a potato planter with a supporting frame, of two furrow openers located at either side of the longitudinal center of the machine, suitable frame supports for the said furrow openers, means connected therewith for adjusting the position of the furrow openers and for varying the distances between rows for planting potatoes, a notched plate connected to the forward part of the frame of the furrow openers, and a segment plate connected to and supported .by the potato planter and received in the notch of the notched plate for overcoming any tendency to lateral motion and vibration.

8. The combination in a potato planter with a U-shaped supporting frame at its forward ends pivoted to the main frame of the machine, of two coverer devices located at either side of the longitudinal center of the machine, frames having spindles upon which the coverers are mounted, means for connecting said frames in an adjustable relation to said U-shaped supporting frame, a second U-shaped frame inversely positioned with reference` to the main U-shaped frame and at its free ends connected therewith,

and said latter frame rising in the potato planter and extending forward of the main axle, and a foot lever ,connected therewith, whereby the operator, by foot pressure, may raise the coverers off the ground and hold them securely insuch position.

9. The combination i'n a potato planter lwith a U-shaped supporting frame at its forward ends pivoted to the main frame of the machine, of two coverer devices located at either side of the longitudinal center of with a U-shaped supporting frame at its' forward ends pivoted to the main frame of the machine, of coverer devices located at either side of the longitudinal center of the machine, frames having spindles upon which the coverers are mounted, 'means for connecting said frames in an adjustable rela# tion to the said U-shaped supporting frame, a second U-shaped frame placed inversely with reference to the main U-shaped frame and at its free ends connected therewith, the said second U-shaped frame extending forward of the main axle, and means connected with the said second U-shaped frame whereby the operator may move the same to raise the coverers off the ground and support them in a raised position.

Signed by vmethis 17th day of July 1912.

LEWIS AUGUSTUS ASPINWALL.

Witnesses:

C. G. ROWLEY, GEO. N. WHITNEY. 

